Straight-knitting machine



(No Model.)

F. WILCOMB. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 408,561. Patented Aug. 6, 1889.

5mm/woz N. PETERS. mumummphef. wuhingwmnc.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

FRANK VVILCOMB, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE lVIL- COMB KNITTIN G MACHINE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEY JERSEY.

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,561, dated August 6, 1889.

Application filed April l1, 1889.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK VILCOMB, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Straight-Knittin g Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is an improvement on the [o thread-carrier for knitting-machines and the detachable drivingI means therefor shown in Letters Patent, numbered 405,640, granted June 1S, 1889.

The object of said invention is to arrest [5 the carrier at the end of the active row of needles, and thus avoid drawing unnecessary thread beyond the end of the row of active needles whether in knitting plain or in fashioning.

The novel feature herein consists, mainly, in the arrangement of the reversible carrier in its relation to the driving means, whereby said means may pass the carrier when released therefrom, so that the carrier may be 2 5 arrested at any point and on either stroke of the machine, said mechanism being combined with reversing mechanism. This arrangement adapts the carrier for use on a machine which fastens at both ends.

My invention also consists in the construction of the thread-guide and in reversing mechanism therefor.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a knitting-machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section; Fig. 3, a plan view of the carrier, showing in section the detachable drivingpins therefor and the guide-reversing bar. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe driving-block with its pins in section. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the thread-guide. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the carrier, partly in section, showing the reversing mechanism in immediate connection with the spindle.

In the drawings, A are .the guidebars formed with flanges or ways a a at their lower edges, with which engage the gibs b ZJ of vthe carrier B. The carrier is thus supported to move entirely below the plane of the guidebars, between which the driving-block C serai No. 306,893. (No model.)

moves back and forth. The block is driven by the bar o9, which is connected to the crossbrace of the slide-bars, as in my aforesaid application.

The essential feature of my invention is the relative arrangement of driving-block, reversible carrier, and reversing mechanism, by which said block may move freely past the carrier, when detached therefrom, wit-hout disturbing it from its arrested position, and 6o it will be obvious that the block may move alongside the carrier, or be arranged in other ways. I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the precise arrangement of the block at a point above the carrier. The block has .movable pins c, arranged in notches 2. Said pins are under tension of springs 1, and when they are in normalposition they engage the carrier and move it with the block. The pins are raised to detach the carrier from the 7o block by cams or inclines CZ on nuts D.

In machines not intended .for narrowing the supports D for the cams may be iixed in proper relation to the ends of the needlerows. In the present case the cams are on the movable nuts D, operated by screws 3, extending from the vends of the machine above the carrier guide-bars. The nuts have downwardly-extending portions 4, which bear upon the guide-bars and hold the cams. The 8o screws may be connected with the pointblock-shifting device, as in my above-mentioned application, so that the cams will keep pace with the shifting of the point-block and needle-lifting bar. The pins have rollers cx, S5 adapted to ride on the inclines.

Stop-arms G depend from the nuts D to arrest the carrier at the proper point, said arms having springs 6 engaging a projection 7 on the carrier.

The above-described detachable connection necessitates a rearrangement of the threadguide-reversin g mechanism. The guide is carried by the spindle H, adapted to be rotated by means of a pin 16 and slotted sleeve 20, as in 95 my application before mentioned, and the movable channel-bar h6 is also used, operated by the sliding plate 21; but instead of the bar 71.6 being in direct engagement with the stud projecting from the sleeve a bent arm E is roo used, which extends upward Voutside the guidebar, at which place the channel-bar h6 is located. The bent arm E has a boss e at its lower end, which passes through a slot 13 in the carrier, and is secured by a screw Ll to the movable sleeve. The thread-carrier is also o't improved form, together with the means by which it may be held or adjusted in position. The objects sought are simplified construction both of the guide itself and the holding and adjusting bracket; and, further, a construction that will permit easy threading of the yarn through the guide. The guide consists of a tubular bar the opening through which extends clear to the Atop to receive the thread. The lower part is flattened to form a knife-edge to open and hold latches. The bracket h is the means of attachment between the guide and the spindle of the carrier, this being secured to the lower end of the spindle and extendinglaterally. The guide is clamped between the ends of the bracket which engage the periphery of the tube. Vhen properly adjusted, the guide is inclined in position, and its open upper end being directed outward permits the yarn to be con venientlyand quickly threaded, while the adjustment of the guide maybe easily effected by raising or lowering the bracket on the spindle or by adj listing the guide through the bracket 71.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination, the reversible threadcarrier, supporting and guiding ways therefor, a driving-block, guideways for said block arranged parallel to the guideways et the carrier, to one side of the same, to permit the block to move past the carrier, a detachable connection between the block and the carrier, means for detaehing said connection, and means for reversing the carrier at any point in its stroke, substantially as described.

f2. In combination, the reversible threadcarrier, supporting and guiding Ways therefor, a driving-block, guideways l'or said block arranged parallel to the guideways of the carrier, to one side of the same, to permit the block to move past the carrier, a detachable connection between the block an`d carrier, operating means for said connection, a device for moving said operating means, and means for reversing the carrier at any part of its stroke, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the guide-bars, the carrier supported by the lower portion of said bars, the driving-block between the bars and above the carrier, the detachable connections, and operating means therefor, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the guide-bars, the carrier, and the detachable driving-block, both of said parts being' supported by the guidebars, and means for operating the detachable driving-blocks to release the carrier, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the guide-bars, the reversible carrier, the operating means for reversing the carrier, andthe detachable sliding block, all of said parts being supported by the guide-bars, substantially as described.

6. In combination, the guide-bars, the carrier, the detachable driving-block between the bars, means for operating the detachable driving-block to release the carrier, and the thread-guide-reversing mechanism on the ou tside of the bars, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the carrier, the reversible guide, the detachable driving-block arranged to move past the carrier, means for operating the saine, the bar 71,, the operating connections between the same and the guide, and means for operating the bar h6, substantially as described.

8. In combination, the guide-bars, the driving-block, the reversible carrier, the means for reversing said carrier, the arm E, and means for moving the arm, substantially as described.

9. In combination, the guide-bars, the reversible carrier with operating means for reversing it, the driving -block, the sliding spring-pin for connecting the block and lcarrier, and the means for operating said pin to release 'the carrier, substantially as described.

lO. In combination, the carrier with its spindle and the guide, said guide consisting of a tubular bar attened at its lower end and having the opening for the thread extending to the upper end, and a bracket on the spindle, said bracket having the guide secured thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have si gn ed my nam e to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK XVILCOMB.

Witnesses:

DANIEL MCNIVEN, MILLARD F. MUNROE. 

